2008
Benicio supports Barack Obama.
"Like millions of other people, I think Barack Obama
will change Washington DC and better the impression
of the United States globally," Benicio said in a statement
addressed "to my brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico."
"I also believe that he is committed to advocate
for our island from the White House," he said.
For Benicio, the senator of Illinois, "in his struggle
for identity", has managed to identify similarities
with other groups "and not just the differences,
never forgetting where he came from."
Benicio called on his compatriots
to mobilize and go to the polls.
"On Sunday, Puerto Ricans have a unique opportunity
to vote for our future president. I hope we will seize
this opportunity, go out and vote and
make the difference," he added.
(Source: elNuevoHerald.com)
May 30, 2008
When asked by Primera Hora how they felt
about Benicio winning the Best Actor award
in Cannes, members of Benicio's family
said that they are very proud of him:
"He's the best actor of Puerto Rico and
throughout the whole world!" said his godmother.
"I'm proud of his achievements, because it is a glory,
not only for Puerto Rico, but for the whole world.
...when something like this happens, it's wonderful."
"We are very happy and very proud, as always,"
responded his brother.
"Really, we're really happy and cheerful."
(Source: Primera Hora)
May 30, 2008
According to Benicio's father, who attended the presentation
of The Argentine and Guerrilla in Cannes last May 21st,
there was a standing ovation that lasted about
11 minutes and a half at the end of both films.
(Source: PrimeraHora)
May 29, 2008
Benicio was spotted with a group of friends in central London last night.
May 28, 2008
Here are some more videos that include
footage of Benicio in Cannes after winning his award.
Simply click on the photos below to view the clips:
Clip in German
(Source: Faz.net)
(Source: YouTube.com)
May 27, 2008
Click on the photo below to watch an interview with Benicio:
(Source: Canal +)
May 26, 2008
Click on the photo below to watch
a short clip of Benicio talking about winning
the Best Actor award yesterday in Cannes:
(Source: IBN Live)
May 26, 2008
Benicio holding his award for Best Actor yesterday in Cannes.
May 25, 2008
Click on the photo below to watch an interview
which took place after Benicio won his award
for Best Actor in Cannes today:
(Source: Canal+)
May 25, 2008
Benicio has won the Best
Actor award
at the Cannes Film Festival.
Congratulations, Benicio!!
May 25, 2008
Benicio attends the closing ceremony
at the Cannes Film Festival.
Benicio arriving at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony
today, accompanied by "Che" producer Laura Bickford.
May 25, 2008
After the May 22nd presentation of "Che"
at the Cannes Film Festival, Benicio returned to England
to continue filming The Wolfman only to be called back
to Cannes for today's closing ceremony.
Benicio returning to Cannes for today's closing ceremony.
May 25, 2008
"Che" won the Prix de l'Éducation nationale Cannes 2008,
announced the Ministry of National Education yesterday
in Cannes.
Chaired by actor and director Robin Renucci,
the jury is composed of ten (10) members of
the professional and educational community.
The Price of Education is awarded to a film
in competition for its cinematical and educational
merits and its artistic qualities.
The rewarded work is to become the subject
of an educational DVD-ROM to facilitate the approach
to the topic and to invite students to analyze and debate.
(Source: LeFigaro.fr)
May 25, 2008
Click on the photos below to view clips
of the various moments of "Che" in Cannes.
Arrivals:
Interview with Benicio and Steven Soderbergh:
The complete press conference:
"Che" highlights from the festival:
Clip from the film
(49 seconds):
Clip from the film
(45 seconds):
(Source: Canal +)
May 25, 2008
Still from The Argentine:
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
Stills from Guerrilla:
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
May 24, 2008
May 24, 2008
Here are more photos from the May 22nd press conference:
May 24, 2008
Benicio said that he will attend the première of
The Argentine and Guerrilla when it will come out in Argentina.
(Source: InforBae.com)
May 23, 2008
You can access another clip (in German)
of the red carpet arrivals and the public's comments
about "Che" by clicking on the photo below:
(Source: Spiegel Online Video)
May 23, 2008
Click on the photo below to view a 34-second clip (in French)
of Benicio's arrival at the screening of "Che" yesterday in Cannes.
You can also listen to the people's comments about the film,
after the screening, starting at 1:55 on the video.
(Source: La Minute à Cannes)
May 23, 2008
More reviews about Benicio's performance
in The Argentine and Guerrilla:
Farah Nayeri / Bloomberg.com
The movie owes a great deal to the
masterly performance of Del Toro...
The actor (also one of the film's producers)
gives the right balance of virility and compassion.
Jason Anderson / EyeWeekly.com
As Che, Benicio Del Toro is convincing
and unsentimental - like the film around him,
Del Toro defines the quality of Guevara's character
by emphasizing his actions over his words.
Pete Hammond / Hollywood.com
Del Toro's intensely quiet and determined turn
could gain attention from his fellow actors. He's also
clearly in the hunt for the Cannes best actor prize Sunday night.
Allan Hunter / ScreenDaily.com
Benicio Del Toro's commanding performance
is equally careful to stress Che the man
rather than Che the hero. His Che is entirely
convincing as an inspirational figure.
Fabien Lemercier / Dearcinema.com
...played by a very believable Benicio Del Toro -
a strong contender for a Best Actor Award.
May 22, 2008
Here are some photographs taken
during the Photo Call at Cannes today:
May 22, 2008
To view a clip of today's press conference (dubbed in French),
click on the photo below:
(Source: festival-cannes.fr)
May 22, 2008
A press conference was held today about The Argentine and Guerrilla.
Click here to read an excerpt of the press conference.
May 22, 2008
The following photographs were taken at the
"Che" after-party at the Murano Night Club:
Benicio with Faye Dunaway
Benicio with Tim Robbins
May 22, 2008
More photos from the red carpet arrival on The Croisette:
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)
(Source: Introducing-Catalina.com)
May 22, 2008
(Source: maville.com)
May 22, 2008
Here are some reviews of The Argentine and Guerrilla:
Jeffrey Wells / Hollywood Elsewhere
Che is brilliant... the first half is, for me,
incandescent -- a piece of full-on realism
about the making of the Cuban revolution
that I found utterly believable and politically
vibrant and searing. It's what I'd hoped for and more.
Benicio del Toro's Guevara portrayal is, as expected,
a flat-immersion that can't be a "performance"
as much as a knock-down ass-kick inhabiting...
The second half, also known as Guerrilla,
equally delighted although it's a different kind
of film -- tighter, darker (naturally, given the story).
Charles Ealy / Austin360.com
...it's safe to say that it's the most ambitious
movie from an American director since the 1970s.
I've never seen anything quite like it in Cannes.
James Rocchi / Cinematical
Che is a very good biographical drama.
Bold, beautiful, bleak and brilliant,
Che's not just the story of a revolutionary;
in many ways, it's a revolution in and of itself.
Kim Voynar / Cinematical
I walked out feeling like I'd just had the
cinematic equivalent of winning the Lotto,
and I'm still on a high from the film.
Che will almost definitely win the Palm d'Or,
and if Benicio del Toro doesn't win
the Best Actor Oscar come January,
there's something wrong with the world.
Che is everything a biopic should be, and
del Toro's performance is nothing short of astounding.
May 21, 2008
Click on the photo below to view a short clip of "Che":
(Source: Yahoo! News)
May 21, 2008
During a news conference to be held tomorrow,
Steven Soderbergh is expected to address the
question of how The Argentine and Guerrilla
will eventually be released in the United States.
(Source: Austin360.com)
May 21, 2008
To view clips of the arrivals at the "Che" première
on the Croisette at the Cannes Film Festival today,
click on the links below:
Cannes Film Festival official website
May 21, 2008
Here are some photos taken of Benicio and
the "Che" team on the red carpet in Cannes today:
For more photos, visit:
May 21, 2008
Variety's Anne Thompson is reporting that
the "buzz is good" on Benicio's performance
in The Argentine and Guerrilla.
Jeffrey Wells is in Cannes and
he wrote the following in his column:
"A guy who's seen both films told me last night that
Del Toro's performance is so intense he's 'almost scary'."
(Source: Hollywood Elsewhere)
May 20, 2008
Next Wednesday, Cannes will get
its first look at The Argentine and Guerrilla,
the most talked-about films for sale there.
Some studios and specialty labels, including
Warner Bros., passed on financing the two pics,
but buyers are hovering, with some North American
distribs staying in Cannes so they can see the pics.
According to distribs, Wild Bunch is asking
$8 million to $10 million for the U.S.
The two films will be the official competition screening
Wednesday, with market screenings the day after.
A pair of two-hour pics about Guevara, in Spanish, could be
a tough sell in North America without great reviews and
awards attention (advance buzz is good on Benicio).
(Source: Variety.com)
May 19, 2008
Benicio will arrive in Cannes, coming from London,
in the evening of May 20th. He is going to be there for
May 21st and 22nd. He will stay at the Majestic-Barrière Hotel.
(Source: HollywoodReporter.com)
May 18, 2008
Here's the latest information sheet for "Che" (The Argentine and Guerrilla):
(Source: Wild Bunch)
May 18, 2008
The following stills were made from the 20-second clip of "Che":
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
© Stills: www.beniciodeltoro.ca
A montage of all the films in competition
at the Cannes Film Festival this year
has been made available by Canal +.
To see a 20-second clip of "Che",
click on the photo below and fast-forward the video to 8:36.
(Source: Canal +)
May 17, 2008
"Che" will be released by Fox in Spain as two separate films.
"The first film (The Argentine) will be released by Fox
in September, and the second (Guerrilla) will follow
after that, although the date is yet to be confirmed," said
Pedro Uriol of Morena Films, "Che"'s Spanish producers.
There has been some consternation over releasing
Che in Cannes as one four and a half hour film. But
the producers have insisted that the film be split
into two for its theatrical release in Spain.
(Source: ScreenDaily.com)
May 17, 2008
A potential U.S. deal fell apart last night
following days of speculation after the parties failed to agree
over subtitles for the distribution of The Argentine and Guerrilla.
(Source: Guardian.co.uk)
May 16, 2008
In the market, the most talked-about project is
Steven Soderbergh's two-part Che bio, The Argentine
and Guerrilla, both in Spanish.
Any studio specialty arm or indie distrib interested
in acquiring North American rights to the Che pics
will be looking at minimum guarantee of at least
$10 million to $15 million, plus a hefty
marketing commitment.
It's difficult to imagine that the Che Guevara biopics
won't be bought - there are rampant rumors that
the Weinstein Co. or Warner Bros. were, or are, in
exclusive negotiations, though Warner insiders say
the studio isn't bidding.
The specialty film market seems to be dividing between
the foie gras projects like the Che duo (which cost more
than $60 million to produce) and the arthouse films that
cost less than $10 million to make.
The Che pics represent a new class of titles that are
too costly for a traditional limited release but need slowly
simmering word of mouth, meaning a wide release is tricky.
(Source: Variety.com)
May 16, 2008
In a recent interview, director Walter Salles,
whose film Linha de passe is going to be screened
tomorrow in competion at the Cannes Film Festival,
pointed out some nuances between his 2004 film
The Motorcycle Diaries and Steven Soderbergh's "Che":
"My film was about the youth of Guevara,
an episode in history. The one of Soderbergh
sets in later and I consider it brave that he produced it
in Spanish. In the same manner, Benicio Del Toro has
been preparing himself for such a long time for this role,
that he can only be excellent."
(Source: Le Figaro.fr)
May 16, 2008
In the second of an occasional series,
Variety delivers four case studies
illustrating trends in Spanish film finance.
The Argentine and Guerrilla are among those films.
Steven Soderbergh's Cannes Competition player,
the two-pic Che Guevara bio, underscores the lead
now being taken by Spanish broadcast networks
in international film production.
The Argentine and Guerrilla also reflect
the pivotal role played by the Paris-based
sales agent Wild Bunch in bankrolling highly ambitious
auteur fare involving Spain.
"Che" has history. It was originally set up
with Terrence Malick, who dropped out
in 2003. With Soderbergh attached,
U.S. producer Laura Bickford, Wild Bunch and
Spanish production house Morena Films relaunched
financing, budgeted at $61.5 million, not counting deferrals.
One key step was enlisting Telecinco Cinema,
film division of TV web Telecinco. TC and Morena took a
25% co-production stake, with TC retaining all Spanish rights
and both a cut of international. Telecinco was only too happy
to team with Wild Bunch. The Paris company had successfully
sold the Telecinco-backed megahit The Orphanage and
Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. Morena had
co-produced with Telecinco, including recent comedy
Salir pitando, also partnering with Sony.
"Che's one of the bigger-budget film projects
ever made in Spain. It would have been impossible
to co-produce it out of Spain without Telecinco.
No independent producer could shoulder this huge
level of investment," says Morena's Alvaro Longoria.
A nine-week shoot took place in Madrid,
Castille La Mancha and Andalusia. Cast and crew
include Spanish thesps Jordi Molla and Oscar Jaenada,
as well as Oscar-nominated composer Alberto Iglesias.
Also shot in Puerto Rico, the film drew a 40% rebate
on $15 million spend. Wild Bunch and Telecinco/Morena
put up 75% and 25%, respectively, of Che's
complex financial structure.
Though Wild Bunch wasn't looking to presell Che widely,
according to Wild Bunch's Vincent Maraval, many territories
have already been taken including France (Warner Bros.),
the U.K. (Optimum), Scandinavia (Scanbox) and
Italy (Bim Distribuzione). Sun Distribution Co. took
Latin America. U.S. rights are still up in the air.
(Source: Variety.com)
May 16, 2008
In a recent interview with Le Nouvel Observateur,
Laura Bickford mentioned that in order to
prepare for his role in The Argentine and Guerrilla,
Benicio met with the dentist who made up Che
for his entry into Bolivia, as well as the
Bolivian Captain who captured Che, and
also the CIA agent who executed Che.
You can read the entire interview here.
(Source: NouvelObs.com)